What’s new for cruises in 2025? Mega ships and best sailings

The themes that could change your cruise holiday in the coming months

There are plenty of changes ahead for cruise ship passengers in 2025 (Getty Images)

From new ships to more immersive itineraries, 2025 is set to be a busy year for the cruise industry.

The typical cruise passenger is getting younger as taking to the waves is increasingly seen as an affordable and viable family holiday option and a good choice for for solo travellers.

More than a quarter of sailors in the past two years are new-to-cruise, according to data from the Cruise Lines International Association (Clia) trade body – an annual increase of 12 per cent.

Cruise lines are catering for this new and younger audience with ship launches that consider onboard activities and entertainment, and there is now a focus on how and where people want to sail and what they want to eat and drink.

Cruise lines are also keen to green and show they are aware of their impact on marine life and the destinations they visit. This is influencing itineraries but also the way cruise lines interact with their passengers, with a big shift towards mobile apps.

It will be a long time until robots start steering the ships but here are some of the top changes that are set to make waves in the cruise industry during 2025.

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New ships

It is a big year for ship launches, with lots of megaships hitting the high seas.

The 6,762-capacity MSC World America will set sail for the first time in April with Caribbean itineraries from Miami.

Royal Caribbean is set to launch a sister ship to Icon of the Seas, currently the largest cruise ship in the world. It will unveil Star of the Seas in August with sailings from Orlando, catering for 5,610 passengers. The ship features eight different neighbourhoods, a waterpark and slides as well as 40 places to eat and drink.

In September, Virgin Voyages will launch its much-anticipated fourth ship Brilliant Lady with a five-night roundtrip sailing from New York.

Princess Cruises is also preparing for the launch of Star Princess, which will be the biggest ship in its fleet. Its first sailing is scheduled from Barcelona in October.

Fresh from unveiling Disney Treasure at the end of 2024, Mickey and co will welcome two new ships in 2025. The brand is due to launch Disney Destiny from Port Canaveral in November and Adventure, focused on the Asian market, in December.

The UK will also welcome several ships in 2025. The Ritz-Carlton’s newest superyacht, Ilma, which launched in September 2024, will make her inaugural British Isles voyage from Portsmouth in July. Silversea, Swan Hellenic and Crystal Cruises will also sail from the port for the first time.

Disney Fantasy will host summer holidays from Southampton in July and August.

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Solo travel

Solo travel is already a big theme across the travel industry and cruise lines are now picking up on this trend, with many scrapping single supplements on cabins.

This is a growing trend particularly among younger passengers, with research from Clia showing eight to 13 per cent of passengers are coming aboard on their own, especially among millennials and generation Z.

Some cruise lines are even offering discounts to solo travellers. For example, Ambassador Cruise Line is currently offering 25 per cent off the full cabin fare for single travellers if you book by 12 February.

Read more: Why cruise brands are launching women-only sailings

Immersive itineraries

Cruise ships may have become floating resorts but there is also a greater effort in the industry for destination-focused, cultural and themed itineraries. For example, Royal Caribbean is hosting Eurovision sailings this year while Ambassador has an 80s-themed cruise.

Emma Sanger-Horwell, head of cruise at Kenwood Travel, told The Independent, “Passengers are also seeking immersive experiences in off-the-beaten-path locations such as Arctic expeditions and cultural-rich itineraries in Africa.

“Themed cruises ranging from wellness to gastronomy are reshaping how passengers engage with their journey, offering enriching and highly personalised experiences.”

Alaska has become a popular region for new sailings, with MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages to debut there.

This reflects growing demand for ‘coolcations,’ with a recent survey by cruise.co.uk suggesting half of all cruisers find a holiday centred around cooler climates such as the Norwegian fjords and Alaska appealing.

Travel agency Cruise Nation said it has recorded an 84.6 per cent increase in searches for cultural holidays from 2023 to 2024, with a 14.8 per cent rise in cruises to further flung destinations such as Asia, particularly in Vietnam, Japan and Singapore.

The travel agent added: “This suggests growing interest in culturally immersive experiences, possibly due to more travellers seeking authentic, off-the-beaten-path experiences.”

Culinary cruises

Cruises may be associated with all-you-can-eat buffets, but onboard dining continues to evolve with specialty menus curated by Michelin-starred chefs as well as immersive experiences.

Cunard passengers can enjoy a five-course seafood tasting menu created by chef Nathan Outlaw on select Mediterranean sailings aboard Queen Victoria this summer.

Holland America Line has also introduced onboard cooking shows to give passengers a taste of the region they are visiting.

The culinary theme is also being extended to drinks, with wine-themed cruises, as well as speciality brands and celebrity partnerships on board.

Passengers are being offered more choices when it comes to what they drink, and it doesn’t just have to be alcohol. Princess Cruises has added actor Blake Lively’s Betty Booze spirits to its menu as well as the Betty Buzz non-alcoholic option. This is alongside Pantalones Organic Tequila from Camila and Matthew McConaughey and Sláinte Irish Whiskey by Liev Schreiber.

Getting greener

Cruise lines regularly face concerns about overtourism and their impact on the environment. Members of the Clia have committed to net zero emissions by 2050, so more changes could come this year.

Many are trying to show their green credentials with more environmentally friendly ship designs and policies. For example, MSC World America, launching this year, will be powered by the less polluting liquefied natural gas (LNG), similar to World Europa.

Viking Cruises has said it is working on a project for a partial hybrid propulsion system for future ocean ships.

This could help the company to operate at zero-emissions in the Norwegian Fjords and other sensitive environments.

Portsmouth International Port plans to debut the UK’s first shore power system to provide cleaner energy for docked ships across multiple berths at the same time.

Passengers could also see more efforts to reduce waste onboard such as biodegradable straws, digital menus and in-room recycling bins.

Technology

A push towards artificial intelligence and technology feeds into the green travel theme.

Cruise brands such as Virgin Voyages have already ditched paper cruise planners and passengers can book their cruise and manage their whole experience through the app.

Princess also gives passengers a wearable device called the Medallion that lets cruisers find each other and order food and drink at the touch of a button.

Shipping management brand Columbia Cruise Services has predicted that so-called “smart ships” could improve the cruising experience by offering better and faster boarding using artificial intelligence as well as the use of contactless payments an mobile apps onboard to “not only elevate the passenger experience but also improve operational efficiency for cruise lines”.

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